Effect of Plasmodium falciparum Infection on Eosinophil among Semi-Arid Zone Under-five Children: A Hospital Based Cross sectional Study in Maiduguri, Northestern Nigeria

Mukhtar, Z1, Inuwa Y1, Hamza, A. A2, Sada, S. M2, Babangida, M. I2, Suleiman A. B1
1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Biological sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author’s Email: abdullahihamza1434@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010076


ABSTRACT

Malaria is a public health issue in Nigeria, especially in under five children. This study aims to determine the effect of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on eosinophil counts in semi-arid zone children (6-59 months old) that attended State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The study employed cross sectional study design and included 138 children. Ethical approval for the study was granted by the State Specialist Hospital Ethical Committee. Blood samples were collected, prepared and examined microscopically for malaria parasites using Giemsa stain. The World Health Organization’s established protocols (2008) and Sysmex Haematology Auto analyser were used to count parasite density and determined oeosinophil level. Simple linear regression were used as the statistical test to find out the relationship between parasite density and eosinophils. The results revealed the malaria prevalence of 43% (47/110) and were higher in males (23.6%) as compared to females (19.1%). A strong relationship was found between parasite density and eosinophil counts (R² = 0.583, p = 0.021) in aged children (41-59 months). Findings from the study shows that P. falciparum infection induces eosinophilia, which contribute to immune responses, but also pathology. It is necessary to monitor the haematological changes in malaria cases. Routine haematological monitoring in paediatric malaria is important for the detection of eosinophilia-related complications in State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.

Keywords:

P. falciparum,
Eosinophils,
Children,
Maiduguri,
Hospital.